Zotero: Installing Zotero

1. Head to Zotero.org and click on Log In. From here, you can create a free account. You'll just need to provide an email address and create a password.
2. Next, head to the download page. Follow the instructions for downloading and installing Zotero 7 for your operating platform.
3. You'll also find information about the Zotero Connector on the download page. This browser extension allows you to quickly save information from online resources to your Zotero library. The website will detect what browser you're currently using and direct you to install its associated Connector. Or you can click on "Zotero Connectors for other browsers" to install the other extensions. Each browser has its own version of the Zotero connector, so if you use both Chrome and Safari you'll need to install both.

Please note that while you can access your library through the Zotero website, all of the useful features of Zotero work only with the desktop version. 

While this guide covers the basics of how to set up and use Zotero, you can read about the new features added as part of Zotero 7.

Once you've validated your email address and installed the tool on your computer, Zotero will ask you to finish setting up your preferences. 

It's important to link the Zotero library on your computer with your online account. That way, any changes you make to your local Zotero library will be automatically synced with your library in the cloud. 

1. Open your local, desktop copy of Zotero.
2. Click on Edit in the menu (for Windows) or on Zotero (for Macs) and then chose Preferences.
3. Find the Sync tab.
4. Make sure that all the checkboxes are selected and then enter your username and password into the spaces provided.
5. Hit "OK."

The Zotero plugin for Microsoft Word or LibreOffice should also install as part of this process if you have either of those already. To verify it installed correctly in Word, open a Word document and look for the Zotero tab in the top main bar in Word. If this doesn't happen, you can manually install it from within your Zotero library. 

1. Open your local copy of Zotero. 
2. Click on Edit in the menu and then chose Cite (if you're on a Windows computer, you'll need to select Preferences from the Edit menu and then select Cite). 
3. Find the Word Processors tab.
4. Click on the "Install Microsoft Word Add-In" button.